British Columbia offers some of the best paddling experiences in the world, with a variety of options from sea kayaking and canoeing to whitewater rafting and river surfing. Explore the province’s diverse waterways, including over 20,000 lakes, 27 million kilometers of coastline, and countless rivers and creeks, to find the perfect spot for your paddling adventure.
Every corner of the province has something unique to offer all paddlers, from novices to experts.
From rafting to canoeing, we have everything needed to “wet” your appetite.
Tag your bestest paddling bud in the comments below.
Unless they’re a harbour seal, in which case they’re probably not on the socials. 🦭
Thanks to @jmedawson who shared this vid with us. He was doing some evening instruction recently for @oceanriversports in Victoria on Vancouver Island and says “I had a little buddy come for a quick edging and bracing clinic. A normal night paddling with the island locals. Come for a visit.”
➡️ For more about the incredible wildlife that can be spotted while paddling in British Columbia, visit the link in our bio.
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#paddling #britishcolumbia #canada #hellobc #explorebc #explorecanada #travelbc #discoverbc #bclife #unpluginbc #bcisbeautiful #beautifulbc #visitbc #amazingbc #bctravel #sealayaking #kayak #kayaking #ecotourism #wildlife #adventure #islandlife
Did you know there’s a company in Vernon that offers adaptive paddling opportunities?
@vernon_adaptive provides inclusive paddling equipment, instruction, and weekly sessions. If you’re in a wheelchair or have other mobility challenges, this is an excellent way to get out on the water and enjoy the beautiful Okanagan Valley.
The company operates out of the @vernonpaddlingcentre on Okangan Lake and is run by Jordan Keaton, a certified flat water instructor and recreation therapist who first brought wheelchair paddleboarding to Canada in 2014.
🎥 @daveheathphoto
@tourism_vernon
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#paddlebc #paddling #britishcolumbia #canada #hellobc #explorebc #explorecanada #travelbc #discoverbc #bclife #unpluginbc #bcisbeautiful #beautifulbc #visitbc #amazingbc #bctravel #adventure #nature #vernonbc #sup #supbc #standuppaddle #Standuppaddleboarding #adaptivepaddling #okanaganvalley #lakeokanagan #vernonpaddlingcentre
One of the most challenging things about paddling with young children is keeping them entertained while they`re in the canoe, kayak, or raft. Here are some ideas:
🪨 Sometime all it takes is a bucket filled with small pebbles that they can continually plop into the water. It’s surprisingly low-tech and it works.
🎣 Fishing rods for kids are cheap and fun. For younger children, it’s probably best to put weights on the end of the line rather than an actual hook. The act of figuring out casting is just as enjoyable for young ones as catching a fish. Be sure to get a fishing license from the before you go. They’re inexpensive and you can download them from the province of BC’s website.
🫧 A small bottle of bubble mixture with a wand can entertain kids for hours. Especially when gentle breezes blow the bubbles across the water or even when they simply land on the water surface beside the canoe.
🔭 Create a list of things for kids to find that you are likely to see in the area you are paddling, like different animals, plants, or rocks. Then give them a pair of binoculars or monoculars (there are child versions that are inexpensive). This will help to keep them observant and engaged with the world around them.
📸 An inexpensive waterproof digital camera is excellent for entertainment value. You can combine it with the scavenger hunt game by getting them to take photos of the things on the list. NOTE: It’s important to secure all accessories such as binoculars and cameras to their lifejackets so they don’t get lost underwater.
For more ideas and a list of family-friendly paddling adventures in BC, visit the "family paddling" link in our bio.
#paddlebc #familypaddling #canoeing #kayaking #rafting
How did the famous Kicking Horse River in Golden, BC get its name?
🫏 Legend has it the river was named by a surveyor in the mid-19th Century after he was unceremoniously booted by his packhorse. Ouch.
Here are a few more bits of info:
🛶 Wapta Lake in Yoho National Park is the headwaters of the Kicking Horse, which winds its way out of the alpine and past three waterfalls including the 30-metre-high, 150-metre-wide Wapta Falls, one of the largest in Canada in both width and volume.
💧The river is a chalky, turquoise colour because it’s fed by the ice fields of the Rocky Mountains.
For more about the Kicking Horse, visit the “Waterways” link in our bio.
Video provided by @glacierraftcompany
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@tourismgolden #paddlebc #paddling #britishcolumbia #canada #hellobc #explorebc #explorecanada #travelbc #discoverbc #bclife #unpluginbc #bcisbeautiful #beautifulbc #visitbc #amazingbc #bctravel #adventure #nature #whitewater #rapids #rafting #kickinghorse #goldenbc #whitewaterrafting
Did you know @reorafting in Boston Bar is one of Canada’s only whitewater rafting resorts?
Its glamping accommodations are located on the shores of the Nahatlatch River in the Fraser Canyon, north of the community of Hope.
The resort’s amenities include hot tub, relaxation gardens, daily catered meals, riverfront patios, luxury tents, beaches and, of course, exciting guided whitewater rafting excursions down the Nahatlatch River.
For more about Reo, visit: https://paddlebc.ca/local-expert/reo-rafting-resort/
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#paddling #britishcolumbia #canada #hellobc #explorebc #explorecanada #travelbc #discoverbc #bclife #unpluginbc #bcisbeautiful #beautifulbc #visitbc #amazingbc #bctravel #adventure #nature #whitewater #rapids #rafting #whitewaterrafting
We’re in Ucluelet!
What an incredible place. It offers everything from beginner-friendly paddling excursions in Ucluelet Harbour and adventurous forays in the open ocean off the peninsula. And the community has some of the best aprés: we recommend pints at @uclueletbrewingco and @papis.cantina.
For more about paddling in Ukee on the west coast of Vancouver Island, visit the link in our bio.
@tourismucluelet
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What does the community of Kitimat offer paddlers?
💧 sea kayak beside waterfalls
🦭 paddleboard with seals and salmon on the turquoise Kitimat River
⛺️ camp on ocean beaches among eagles and mink
🍺 celebrate it all with a pint at the local brew pub Two Peaks Brewing
Follow along with our 3-day itinerary via the link in our bio.
📷 @daveheathphoto
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#paddlebc #kitimatbc #bcaletrail @tourismkitimat
There`s still time to enter Paddle BC`s "Follow 4 Flannel Giveaway" to win a flannel shirt, hat, water bottle and sticker package.💥
Simply like and follow Paddle BC’s Instagram channel and Facebook page. That’s it.
➡ Links in our bio. (Oh, and while you`re there, check out all our great waterway descriptions, event listings, and paddle itineraries across British Columbia.)
A winner will be announced June 30, 2025. Good luck!
#paddlebc #britishcolumbia #canoeing #paddleboarding #kayaking #rafting #kayakfishing
Whatever type of paddling you prefer, here are the events you’ll want to take part in around the province.
The cedar strip canoe my father and I built together three decades ago is, if I may say, a work of art. It’s graced countless stunning waterways over the years, but few…
The most profound experience I’ve ever had while in a sea kayak was when a whale breached 12 feet away and I could smell its fishy breath. It was so rank: like…
When going on a paddling trip with the family, extra considerations are often part of the planning process. Safety and keeping the kids engaged are top priorities on a family trip, but…
